wow, ironwood is awesome!! below is my Fortune Drums kit built from Keller vintage shells in 10, 12, 14, 14x5, 20 w/ African Ribbon Mahogany. although these are not like the normal "modern vintage" shells they offer that are pretty thick. these are a a special run of 8 ply w/ African Ribbon Mahogany inside and out with a Birch core. there are also thin stock maple rings in graduated widths inside fabbed by Dale at FD. enjoy ! Geoff in Atlanta

wow, ironwood is awesome!! below is my Fortune Drums kit built from Keller vintage shells in 10, 12, 14, 14x5, 20 w/ African Ribbon Mahogany. although these are not like the normal "modern vintage" shells they offer that are pretty thick. these are a a special run of 8 ply w/ African Ribbon Mahogany inside and out with a Birch core. there are also thin stock maple rings in graduated widths inside fabbed by Dale at FD. enjoy ! Geoff in Atlanta

Holy cow, those are gorgeous drums! In cases like this, there is nothing a stain can do to increase the beauty of natural wood.

Thick mahogany/birch shells should give a great balance of attack, warmth and volume.

Why are the shells so long? Is that how they make them, as long cylinders, then cut them in sections?

Holy cow, those are gorgeous drums! In cases like this, there is nothing a stain can do to increase the beauty of natural wood.

Thick mahogany/birch shells should give a great balance of attack, warmth and volume.

Why are the shells so long? Is that how they make them, as long cylinders, then cut them in sections?

yeah that is how the drum makers get them or can order them...they they just cut them up. i guess this has to be carefully planned out, ordered, etc. i will as Dale how he does this part. i forgot to mention that these are just lightly finished w/ some oil / seal. the only thing stained at the BD hoops which were crafted to match using (maple) hoops. it's seamless & amazing work.

Thanks! It's not my main gigging snare right now, but it is one of my "go to" snares. Actually, this is my recent favourite, & right for this thread too. Totally natural finished ebony stave, kindly made for me by Dean @ Guru Drumworks. It really is a monster rimshot backbeat machine, & the ebony grain is just beautiful in the flesh. Why would you ever stain something like this! Anyhow, I've never heard of a drum made in ebony, & it probably rivals DMC's ironwood for weight too, lol!

Totally natural finished ebony stave, kindly made for me by Dean @ Guru Drumworks. It really is a monster rimshot backbeat machine, & the ebony grain is just beautiful in the flesh. Why would you ever stain something like this! Anyhow, I've never heard of a drum made in ebony, & it probably rivals DMC's ironwood for weight too, lol!

damn, off-the-chart beautiful. this whole thread makes me wonder if there are furniture guys out there thinking drummers are NUTS to be wailing on these pieces of art.

Wow... Those are gorgeous Adam. Very cool. I have a Yamaha Oak, but it's Honey Amber and thus not appropriate for this thread ;) I love the oak grain.

Thanks, Oak kits sound and look beautiful.. in that order. Show off your wood... drums.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deathmetalconga

Whoa - those are not stained? Unbelievable! Natural wood rules. Well, sometimes. Stains and fades look nice too but sometimes the natural pattern of wood is very dramatic.

As far as I know, they are only lacquered. You can also see the grain on the inside of the shells, but the lacquer really brings out the grain. I developed a pet peeve for shells being a different color on the inside, ie. a nice veneer on the outside and a bright plain raw wood on the inside, so this kit is satisfying on so many levels.
Also, I didn't realize your kit wasn't stained, that's pretty amazing! Nothing like a dense wood kit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by keep it simple

Now that's probably one of the most striking grained oak kits I've ever seen, Stunning! Must be a faster growing variety like red oak or similar. Love it!

Latz, that is an awesome looking drum... How did you get the grains to turn on those segments? Were they steam bent then dried or what? Very creative.

That is the natural grain pattern, the blocks may have been flipped when I glued it together, but the rest is all natural..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deathmetalconga

No way! You MADE this?? Possibly the most beautiful snare I have ever seen.

DMC, Thanks, that is a big compliment. I have been making drums since '95, a few famous clients and more not so famous. Check out my snare collection in my sig, I made all of the ones with tube lugs. Even manufactured the lugs way back when...

Quote:

Originally Posted by keep it simple

Stunning use of segmented design! I love the wave effect of the grain curves. Very original, very sexy.

KIS, thanks. These pics are from the customer. When I saw them I told him he could have at least wiped the finger prints off. He laughed and replied, "Fingerprints!?! That's drool my friend... " So I guess I can't complain...

__________________"Never take life too seriously, 'cause you'll never get out of it alive!!"My Dirty Little

My hybrid, formerly a 5 1/2 inch birdseye radio king that sounded bad, and a 1920's solid maple ludwig, I found the shell with no hardware, well a couple tube lugs, originally a 6 lugger.
Originally built in 1980, this is the latest rebuild, I have owned about 130 snares and this is still the best of the best.

another hybrid. I just had extra chunks. I always used this one to check my router depth when doing bearing edges on other projects, but now I may finish it.
Put some birdseye veneer on it

My Signia kit, previously was satin stained, now I gave it the birdseye.

And last my next snare project. Shell and hoops off ebay from Brian Marquez in California.

I'm just picking my jaw up off the floor. Stunning shells - I suspect staining them would reduce the shimmer effect of the grain. Great example of how, in some cases, you just can't improve upon nature.

Yeah, he is God. No he's a carpenter, work in a factory which makes office furniture. This is just a little hobby of his, making instruments. He has also made a violin and he wants to make a double bass.

Thanks! It's not my main gigging snare right now, but it is one of my "go to" snares. Actually, this is my recent favourite, & right for this thread too. Totally natural finished ebony stave, kindly made for me by Dean @ Guru Drumworks. It really is a monster rimshot backbeat machine, & the ebony grain is just beautiful in the flesh. Why would you ever stain something like this! Anyhow, I've never heard of a drum made in ebony, & it probably rivals DMC's ironwood for weight too, lol!

Wow, that is one serious drum. Ironwood is denser, but this shell is much thicker and my ironwood snare is 13 by 4. This snare is a monster! The density of ebony means this drum will have more crack than a plumber's butt, but the stave construction/aligned grain means it will be more sensitive than a gay men's support group.